At last year's Pitchfork Music Festival in Chicago, Whole Foods offered guests scented sprays as well as sunscreen, hair ties, and bobby pins. A sign nearby read, "Refresh yourself before you wreck yourself."
To bring more energy to the trade show floor, organizers of the 2013 National Auto Dealers Association Convention & Expo created four destinations that offered activities such as makeovers, 20-minute dance workouts, health screenings, and chair massages. One section provided pinball machines, arcade games, Nascar simulators, a photo graffiti wall, and golf swing analysis for attendees to play.
Stress-relieving coloring books for adults from Scarborough & Tweed offer a creative alternative to traditional party favors and corporate gifts. Coloring pencils are included. Pricing is available upon request.
Wool and the Gang delivers full “knit kits,” including yarn, chunky needles, easy-to-follow patterns, and a link to online video tutorials, to offices or event spaces for knitting parties. (The repetitive action of needlework can reportedly induce a relaxed state like that achieved with meditation and yoga.) Projects range in difficulty from a clutch, pillow cover, knit snood, crochet snood, and hat; items will change for spring and summer season. The party hosts receive their kits for free, while guests receive discounts on their kits, ranging from $27 for a clutch to $35 for a snood or hat. Knitters can also attend preplanned parties that Wool and the Gang hosts in cities around the country. Tickets are approximately $40, depending on the project; the price includes the materials needed.
The 24th annual Elton John AIDS Foundation Academy Awards viewing party took place at West Hollywood Park on February 28. Desserts at the after-party included espresso milkshakes topped with mini doughnuts on straws.
For a winter-theme meeting break idea, Hilton McLean Tysons Corner in suburban Washington, D.C., has a "blue break" that features a variety of icy blue snacks, including jelly beans, donuts with blue frosting, blueberry lemonade, and "snow balls" made from marshmallows and coconut.
Perez Art Museum Miami's March 4 gala drew some 800 guests. With an overall concept from Lee Brian Schrager, the evening included a "Chef's Table" seated dinner, a "Supper Club" lounge, and a "Remix" after-party. In the Supper Club lounge, interactive artist stations included a floor-to-ceiling coloring book, which invited guests to doodle on the wall.
This year's January 9 gala in Miami had less of a backyard-barbecue feel than previous iterations, with a look modeled on a French garden. Greenery, high hedges, silver tones, and amber lighting all added to the sophisticated, outdoorsy vibe. The event took place at the YoungArts Campus and Wow Factor handled decor. Starr Events also worked on the benefit.
Held on February 5 at Liberty Grand, the massive event drew some 3,000 guests. The benefit had a "Night in the Woods" theme, which showed up in decor that had glowing green projections of trees. Decor & More handled the evening's design.
